Member postings for Grindstone Cowboy

At the risk of starting an argument over the pros and cons of Eclipse blades, my original reason for asking the question is because I have become totally disillusioned with the performance and longevity of a pack of "Eclipse" blades I have. Now, to be fair, I did buy them from a random stall at a show many years ago, so they may be fakes - do people do that with hacksaw blades?

Rob

Something like this

If there is a lug on the back of that indicator, then you just need to make a shouldered stud that will attach through the lug, secured with a nice knurled nut, and with the protruding plain shank of a diameter to fit the hole in the clamp you already have.

I've probably not explained that very well

Rob

Thanks again for all replies, I went with the Starretts from Cromwell. Of course, I just had to add a few other things to make it over the thirty quid required for free postage... (early Christmas presents)

I didn't go for the Lenox as I'm heavy-handed enough to break a few.

Rob

I've just worked out (I think) what "spline chunk" is.

Spelling checker?

Rob

Thanks guys - just had a look at the link and I'm a bit stunned by the displayed price of nearly £300 for 2

I'm assuming that must be for the 100 pack but it doesn't change if I select other options. I'll proceed further through the buying process and see if it rectifies itself.

Rob

+1 on total bewilderment about spline chunks - I can't wait to see the explanation

Rob

Hi all

Does anyone have any recommendations for decent hacksaw blades, please?

Thanks,

Rob

Probably means nothing, but the photo on the Zoro site clearly shows two washers together, and they are marked Nord-Lock. It's just the description states Nord-Lock Type and interestingly, the tab in Firefox shows "(Unbranded) M8 Steel Nord-lock Type Washers Delta | at Zoro".

I would definitely contact Zoro - they may be unaware their pickers are making this error, and unless someone points it out, they never will.

Rob

Currently downloading the 2022 version, having had the 2020 and 2021 editions (but admittedly not really used them much). One thing which is vaguely irritating is the fact that Siemens seem to be unable to remember me - every download results in me having to re-register, despite having one (possibly two) accounts and verifying my email each time.

This time, I'll make more of an effort to learn how to use the software properly.

Rob

Unfortunately, that didn't help Major-General John Sedgwick

Rob

Links to https://www.phrases.org.uk/famous-last-words/john-sedgwick.html

Thanks Sean

Just for the sake of my sanity, can you clarify whether your lathe has power cross-feed or not? If it has, it's not a Model C, so that may indicate the bed is not original (or the saddle/carriage/leadscrew assembly isn't, depending how you look at it).

Rob

Ah, right - didn't see that as a thread. I don't know what that might be for, to be honest. Probably does have a use, though, along with the cross hole which most of them seem to have - no room in the military for pointless decoration

Rob

The crown with E was the inspection marking for the Enfield Armoury. Not sure, but the 38 may refer to the year (1838) or may just be a reference number.

If by the threaded bit you mean the thread just behind the screwdriver bit (around the 8 o'clock postion in your photo), I don't think it has any use except as storage for the wad-puller (it screws on there with the pointy bits inwards so they don't catch on anything).

Rob

Yes, it's a fairly common combination tool for a muzzle-loading weapon. As David Jenner says, there's a screwdriver, wad-puller (to use, it would be threaded onto the ramrod supplied with the gun, stored under the barrel), the square recess is indeed for removing a percussion nipple, and the spike for clearing the hole in said nipple (or the connecting hole to the breech once the nipple is removed. A similar type is shown below, which has an additional bullet puller (looks like a woodswcrew).

Rob

Speaking of environmentally sustainable, I think I'd rather heat my machinery than what seems to be a growing trend in the USA - the electrically heated driveway!

Rob

Slightly intriguing annoyance on my dual-boot PC is that if I use Linux followed by Windows during BST, the Windows time is an hour out (i.e. GMT) until resynched manually.

Rob

That's totally different to the cross-slide screw on my Boxford Model C (bench type) - mine has ball thrust bearings, resettable dials and endfloat adjustment - and I have no reason to think these features were not original (it has the same set-up on the compound too).

Maybe the power crossfeed on the A and B models necessitated a different arrangement?

Rob

Welcome Peter

I don't have a Halifax lathe, but more than likely someone on here will know of them.

Rob